Should Mum or Dad Do The Sleep Training?

Should Mum or Dad Do The Sleep Training?

Author: Sally Woods and Bec Maher August 19, 2026 Duration: 26:24

Which parent should be the one doing the settling at bedtime? Can you tag team? What happens if you tap out mid-session? Sally and Bec get into all of it — and their answer might surprise you.

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What You'll Learn

  • Why Bec's default is mum first — and exactly when she flips that
  • What happens when dad takes over and it's going well... then mum comes back in
  • The breastfeeding-to-sleep trap: why the boobs returning changes everything
  • Why one parent per resettling session is the non-negotiable rule
  • The extinction burst on nights three and four — and why you don't want to swap parents right then
  • What to do if you're a solo parent, a FIFO parent, or your appendix ruptures
  • How Sally runs bedtime in her own house (alternating nights, electric blanket by 7.02 pm)
  • Why both parents need to be able to settle, even if one is easier right now


Chapters

  • 00:00 Intro & celebrating Bec's three-peat family
  • 05:38 Which parent should do the sleep training?
  • 06:18 Why Bec prefers mum for the first three to four nights
  • 07:38 The breastfeeding-to-sleep association problem
  • 09:07 When dad should take the lead instead
  • 10:19 Path of least resistance — and what that actually means
  • 13:59 Don't rescue the other parent mid-session
  • 15:31 Can you tag team? One parent per resettling session explained
  • 17:18 When dad says "I think they want you" — Bec's take
  • 19:02 What if your appendix ruptures? Future-proofing both parents
  • 21:43 Sally's alternating bednight system at home
  • 23:09 The extinction burst and why consistency is everything on nights three and four
  • 25:20 Solo parents, FIFO families and the village mentality
  • 26:03 Wrap up


About Nap Trapped
Nap Trapped is hosted by Sally Woods (The Sleep Concierge) and Bec Maher (The Sleep Centre) — two sleep consultants, two mums, and zero patience for vague advice. Every Wednesday they bring you evidence-based, real-talk sleep support for tired parents.


Links
Instagram — Sally: https://www.instagram.com/thesleepconcierge/
Instagram — Bec: https://www.instagram.com/_thesleepcentre/
Website: www.naptrappedpodcast.com


Ever found yourself stuck on the couch, scrolling in the quiet, while your little one finally sleeps? You're not alone, and that's exactly where Nap Trapped finds its groove. Hosted by Australian sleep consultants Sally Woods of The Sleep Concierge and Bec Maher from The Sleep Centre, this podcast meets you in that exhausted, sometimes isolating space. It’s a direct conversation between two experts who are also mums, blending solid, evidence-based strategies with the real-world chaos of family life. They break down the 'why' behind restless nights and short naps, moving beyond rigid rules to offer adaptable, practical solutions that actually fit your day. The tone is all solidarity and zero judgment, recognising that every family's sleep journey is different. You'll hear honest stories, debunk common myths, and get actionable advice that aims to bring more rest to your household, not just your baby. Tune into Nap Trapped for a genuinely helpful mix of professional insight and relatable commiseration, all delivered with a warm, Aussie sensibility. It's the kind of podcast you listen to while you're, well, nap trapped, and finish feeling equipped and understood.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 50

Nap Trapped
Podcast Episodes
The Unspoken Benefits of Sleep Training [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:39
Want to subscribe to every episode and get FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comSleep training is usually talked about in terms of wake windows, self-settling, and fewer night wakings. But what parents don’t hear…
Sleep Detectives: 4am Starts at 7 Months, What’s Really Going On? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:24
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comIt’s our Sleep Detectives episode, where we answer your real-life baby sleep questions (and somehow turn each one into a mini consult).…
Why Up Time ≠ Awake Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:01
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comIf you’re aiming for a 7–7 schedule and your baby wakes at 6:15am, what time do you start the day?From the moment they open their eyes?…
Merry Christmas from Sally & Bec | A Quick Holiday Message [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:32
A quick note from Sally and Bec to wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Whether today's big or quiet, they hope you get a moment to breathe.They know the season can be exciting and messy, especially when you're…
Resettle, Resettle, Resettle - What Does That Even Mean? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:14
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 naptrappedpodcast.comYou know that moment when your baby wakes at 10pm but you're trying to hold the feed until midnight? Sally and Bec finally explain what 'ju…
Sleep Detectives: Nap Schedules, Early Rising & Pram Struggles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:48
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comThis week's Sleep Detectives tackles six parent questions spanning the full baby sleep spectrum. From nap schedule basics to stubborn e…
Holiday Boundaries: Your Permission to Prioritise Sleep [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:58
Sign up to Nap Trapped and enjoy 20% off the all-new baby sleep platform 'Snooze' featuring Sally and Bec as your personal baby sleep coaches 👉 ⁠www.naptrappedpodcast.com⁠You can feel them closing in. The relatives. The…
Sleep Detectives: Regressions, Poop Wakes & Nap Drops [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:39
Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.comYour baby was sleeping through. Now they're waking hourly. Your toddler was cruising on two naps. Now they're refusing the second one.…
Is This Normal? A Real 9-Month Sleep Case Study with a Nanny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:54
Sally's all-access sleep platform Snooze is LIVE! Sign up before December 31 and get the REST OF 2025 FREE A nanny reached out with a question we hear all the time: is it normal to keep waking my baby from that first nap…